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MLB power rankings: Best player on each team

By Brad Berreman

Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Oakland Athletics: OF Khris Davis

Coming off consecutive 20-plus home run seasons, Davis was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to Oakland in mid-February of 2016. The move to a more pitcher-friendly home park could have been a detriment, but all Chris with “K” (not to be confused with Chris Davis of the Orioles) did was hit 42 home runs and drive in 102. So far this season, he has kept the power surge going with seven home runs and a .321 batting average over his first 56 at-bats.

A Billy Beane-led front office can always be expected to try to maximize a player’s value and move someone if they may get too expensive, and Davis is probably at the peak of his trade value right now. He has two more years of arbitration eligibility left, so that kind of team control will surely appeal to contending teams if Davis continues to hit between now and the trade deadline.

Oakland is essentially an island of non-descript young players and veteran cast-offs at this point, and staff ace Sonny Gray’s star has faded a lot after a bad 2016 campaign and another injury delaying the start to his 2017 campaign. So Davis stands out automatically as the best player on the team right now, for better or worse, if only based on a prolific contribution offensively. Slim pickings here, but Davis has to be the choice.

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